Youth Development will not happen if we continue doing business as usual
Manhattan, New York, September 20, 2017. The NEPAD Agency hosted a high level forum on harnessing skills for rural transformation on the margins of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly. The event brought together a cross section of high profile leaders, champions and practitioners from both public and private institutions across the globe.
The forum created a platform to discuss and hear the experiences from various stakeholders on how issues of leadership, policies and investments can create opportunities for job creation and employment for youth in their home countries, particularly in rural areas. The forum also looked at NEPAD Programmes and that of UN Agencies and how they contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 8- to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Below is what some of the delegates had to say:
"We need to constantly re-look at our policy design to adapt to current needs,otherwise we cant tackle development challenges"
Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, NEPAD Agency CEO
"Government cannot ask youth to be entrepreneurs if governments themselves are not entrepreneurs"
Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, NEPAD Agency CEO
"On leadership-nothing can be transformed if leadership is not present.Youth development needs good leadership & governance"
Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, NEPAD Agency CEO
"On youth unemployment-this is a ticking time-bomb.We must tackle it with effective strategies,we cant do business as usual"
Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, NEPAD Agency CEO
“If Africa has to move forward, we need to harness our rural spaces”
Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong, NEPAD Agency Director, Natural Resources Governancy and Food Security Programme
“The NEPAD Agency Policy Framework for Youth Development in Africa is implemented under the NEPAD Rural Futures Programmes”
Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong, NEPAD Agency Director, Natural Resources Governancy and Food Security Programme
“At the heart of the issue of employment and rural development, it is necessary to implement labour policies.”
H.E Mr Zacharie Perevet, Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Cameroon
“All the African countries are now talking about Emergence. But the real question is emerging with whom? This is why the question of skills is crucial”
H.E Mr Zacharie Perevet, Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Cameroon
“1. Globally- 800 Million people are undernourished 2. Africa - 243 million people are undernourished “
Dr Jose Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General
"To create employment for youth, we need to focus on the whole value chain of food"
Dr Jose Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General
"Traditional forms of agric will not absorb the many youth looking for employment, in food value-chain lies solutions"
Dr Jose Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General
"On investments-Pro-poor investments should be prioritised, with a focus especially on youth & women"
Dr Jose Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General
"Rural areas are losing young people rapidly,to keep them there,policies that provide them with a secure future are necessary"
Mr Gilbert Houngbo, President of IFAD
"All our projects in Uganda are focused on tackling rural poverty- Pro-poor development"
Mr Gilbert Houngbo, President of IFAD
“Rural areas are failing to provide opportunities and in turn lose young people. This has major consequences at local, national and continental level”
Mr Gilbert Houngbo, President of IFAD
"Ideas travel quicker among the youth as they use the means of technology openly- they are agents of change"
Bonga Masoka- Founder and Business Developer, G-Tech Holding
“The future of the African economy of today is in the hands of African young people”
Bonga Masoka- Founder and Business Developer, G-Tech Holding
“OECD aims to respond to the youth employment challenge. There is the serious challenge of lack of adequate jobs. We need to evaluate the current policies and programmes to establish how they are equipping young Africans”
Federico Bonaglia, Deputy Director of the OECD Development Centre
“We must aknowledge that SMEs are providers of employment. So, training of entrepreneurs will help create better structures within the SMEs industry”
Federico Bonaglia, Deputy Director of the OECD Development Centre
“Its important to put in place structures to help Africans in the diaspora when they are looking for opportunities in Africa. It should be easy for them to be welcomed back”
Eddie Bergman, NEPAD Agency Goodwill Ambassador
“Young people must be brought on board as partners in decision making processes that are focused on putting Africa first”
Eddie Bergman, NEPAD Agency Goodwill Ambassador
Notes to Editors
About the NEPAD Skills and Employment for Youth
The NEPAD Skills and Employment for Youth is developed to deliver on the goals and targets set in the Agenda 2063 First Ten Year Implementation Plan and in alignment with existing AU frameworks and commitments. The SEFY aims to position countries towards harnessing the demographic dividend for economic transformation - through multi-sectoral approaches in a manner that is comprehensive, innovative and results orientated in response to local priorities, in line with the goals of Agenda 2063 and the SDGs.